HPD Lake Patrol reports safest Memorial Day weekend on Lake Houston in years

STEFANIE THOMAS

Published
10:17 am CDT, Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Photo: By STEFANIE THOMAS/The Observer

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Police say boaters on Lake Houston played it safe this Memorial Day weekend, drinking responsibly and wearing life jackets.

Police say boaters on Lake Houston played it safe this Memorial Day weekend, drinking responsibly and wearing life jackets.

Photo: By STEFANIE THOMAS/The Observer

HPD Lake Patrol reports safest Memorial Day weekend on Lake Houston in years

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Houston Police Department Lake Patrol officials say Memorial Day weekend on the lake was an unusual success in terms of water safety.

“This was the first time in many years that there were no accidents or fatalities on Lake Houston,” said Sgt. Billy Ray Wilburn. “We didn’t even have any reports of injuries. And not a single BWI (boating while intoxicated).”

Wilburn said traffic on the lake was extremely busy with hundreds of boats taking to the water over the 3-day weekend, especially on Sunday and Monday. Lake Patrol officers worked in 12-hour shifts, he said, with two police boats on the water at all times.

“We didn’t focus on writing a bunch of tickets. We weren’t out to spoil anyone’s fun,” Wilburn said. “Instead we focused on education and high visibility. People saw us everywhere and I think it may have prevented some from drinking too much.”

Wilburn added that 20 buoys recently placed on Lake Houston by the city likely contributed to boating safety as well.

“We placed the buoys in February to mark hazardous water areas such as shallow water and places with a lot of stumps,” Wilburn said. “It’s an ongoing project. Parks and Recreation is working on securing funding to purchase 30 more buoys in the coming months to make the lake safer.”

On Saturday, lake patrol officers’ uneventful patrols were shaken up momentarily when a canoe carrying three children between the ages of 10-12 tipped over.

“The parent was on the bank, yelling for help,” Wilburn said. “We pulled the kids out and brought them to shore. They had their life jackets on, which was a good thing, and everyone was fine.”